Abstract
Widespread dissemination of sufi teachings through fiction literature has gained
considerable currency in recent decades. In South Asia, this literary trend also
broadened the spectrum of Urdu fiction and influenced conventional literature. In
this regard, Mumtaz Mufti (b. 1905-d. 1995) was a renowned Pakistani writer who
has tremendous contribution to Urdu writings. He enjoys a writing career that has
spanned over fifty-five years. Critics label him as a non-conformist writer having
liberal views but overlooked different phases of Mufti’s life, reflecting the shift
from liberalism to Sufism. The publication of his collection of short stories titled
Roghani Putlay in 1984 inaugurated a distinct literary phase in his life, inspired
by psychological motifs and linked to the author’s interest in Sufism. His
inclination for Sufism remained evident in his works till the publication of his last
collection of short stories titled Kahi na jaey, which appeared in 1992. During the
last eighteen years of his literary career, one may discern sufi themes in nearly
fourteen short-stories, whereas many others discuss it partly. By examining
Mufti’s works, it becomes evident that his stories are structured on a series of
ongoing developing personal understanding of Sufism. Proficient use of sufi
themes in his works shows that he was well-conversant with them. The present
study aims at acknowledging the latent sufi thoughts and motifs in his works. The
descriptive and analytical methodology adopted in the study entails tracing the
evolution and development of his inclination towards Sufism, and the subsequent
reflection of sufi thoughts in his life and writings. The article covers Mufti’s
biographical sketch, phase-wise influences, and his authorship with a particular
focus on identifying sufi themes such as separation (firaq) and diversity (kathrat),
the Truth of Truths (Haqiqat al-Haqa’iq), concept of Divine feminine (Jagat Maa),
ontological levels of existence (maratib al-wujud), self-purification and selftransformation (tazkiyah al-nafs), the reality of attraction (haqiqat al-jadhbah),
self-annihilation or self-effacement (Fana), the deception of ego (makr-i-nafsi) and the concept of ecstasy (wajd) in his writings. The study argues that the life of
Mumtaz Mufti reflects a clear shift from liberalism to Sufism which is evident in
his works
Shamila Aroge, Tanvir Anjum. (2022) A Journey Within: The Sufi Transformation in Mumtaz Mufti’s Writings, Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society, volume 35, issue 1.
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